Lyon look to avoid Italian repeat
Friday, December 15, 2006
Article summary
Olympique Lyonnais will hope to erase memories of last season's UEFA Champions League elimination at AC Milan when they return to Italy to face AS Roma.
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Lazio win
The French side have lost in the quarter-finals in the last three campaigns, but have cause for optimism ahead of the first leg on 21 February. Lyon, who will have home advantage for the return on 6 March, have travelled to Italy five times and recorded three victories – including a 2-0 success at the Stadio Olimpico against S.S. Lazio in the 1995/96 UEFA Cup second round. Moreover, coach Gérard Houllier has happy memories of Rome as his old club Liverpool FC defeated Roma home and away in the 2000/01 UEFA Cup fourth round en route to winning the trophy.
Proven quality
"Roma are a very good team who have proved their value by the quality they have shown in Serie A," said Houllier. "They managed to get out of a very difficult group and we will have to be at our very best over the two matches. Our advantage is that the second match will be at our home ground. It's a very interesting draw in that Lyon, who have been at the top of the European game for a number of years now, have never met Roma before, so it's an exciting challenge for both our players and supporters."
'Beautiful draw'
Roma, meanwhile, have met French opposition in five matches in UEFA competition, losing only once. Indeed, the Giallorossi are unbeaten in their three home encounters with visitors from Ligue 1, and coach Luciano Spalletti is confident that run can continue, saying: "It is a great draw for us, very exciting. I'm happy because we'll know immediately if we can hope to go all the way in the competition."
'Good chances'
Spalletti – whose team will be reunited with former striker John Carew – is full of admiration for the French side, saying: "Lyon are a role model. They keep on winning domestic titles, they have technique, strength, enthusiasm and stamina. They are a complete side and can do everything well. Midfielder Juninho Pernambucano is one of the best players in the world and the defence is extremely well-organised, but I think the same about my team and I'm sure we have a good chance of progressing."
